UK vs Louisville 05-06-15.....

[CloverforkCat]

A game that the Cats need for their torney resume. Pitching match ups have not been announced by either team. In the previous meeting, UK pitching was superb, giving up only 1 hit thru 8 innings.
The Cats went with lefties Logan Salow and Dylan Dwyer against the Cards, and each one turned in a beautiful effort. UofL pitching was also outstanding as UK tallied only 1 run, in a 2-1 extra inning Card victory.
What happens tonight ? The largest home crowd of the season for one, more offense from both teams most likely, and hopefully a different outcome from the 1st in-state battle.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Totally gave the game away in Louisville, we dominated that game and still lost. Salow and Dwyer were excellent last time around.

 

[Comebakatz3]

UK is apparently going with Logue to start this one. Kind of strange to change it up considering how well Salow and Dwyer did in the last game, but at least Henderson is smart enough to stay with a lefty. Louisville is also going with someone different, Kade McClurg, who has a 3.09 ERA (which is 3rd worst on their team).

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Cats need this one...I know mid-week games aren't usually too important, but this one can be for many reasons.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Cats up 2-1 in the bottom of the 4th!!

 

[CloverforkCat]

Looks like maybe another low scoring battle tonight. Logue and Dwyer seem to have pitched pretty well. Cards going with yet another pitcher in the bottom of the 5th.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Our bullpen is sad

 

[CloverforkCat]

Hendo takes Dwyer out with 1 down in the 6th and a runner on 2nd. Puts Nelson in who promptly gives up 2 hits and walks 2, and now the Cards lead 4-2 .

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Simply following along on twitter...so far this 4-2 deficit is on the players...2 walks with 2 outs this inning...Shelby doesn't get in front of a hard ground ball with 2 outs and bases loaded? Ridiculous...block it up and get out of the inning tied.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Wild pitch for another run.

Give away so many runs.

 

[DubyaT]

Flat out gave away 3 runs that inning. Sounds like an awful outing pretty much all the way around. Lack of clutch hitting with RISP. Two errors on the board thus far. Two out walks, wild pitches, etc. UK has been horrible in midweek outings.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Opportunity lost, a 5-2 defeat at the hands of our arch rival. Cats are now 26-21 on the season, and need to win this weekends series with Georgia. We have now lost 4 of 5, after winning 6 in a row.

 

[DubyaT]

No sugar coating or downplaying it, UK simply has to win the series against UGA this weekend. Their hopes of making the NCAA tournament rest solely on their record in SEC play. UGA is certainly not a pushover, but UK simply can't afford to drop this series.

It should sting for UK to go 0-4 against UofL and WKU this year. Not nearly good/deep enough in the bullpen to have success in the mid-week this season.

 

[sluggercatfan]

No sugar coating or downplaying it, UK simply has to win the series against UGA this weekend. Their hopes of making the NCAA tournament rest solely on their record in SEC play. UGA is certainly not a pushover, but UK simply can't afford to drop this series.

It should sting for UK to go 0-4 against UofL and WKU this year. Not nearly good/deep enough in the bullpen to have success in the mid-week this season.

Who is Cal visiting with today?...It's not basketball do you think 90% of the fan base or the athletic administration really cares?...In all sports except basketball UL with Jurich has made UK look like a bunch of clowns...

 

[Comebakatz3]

Barnhart at least acted as though he cared at one point.

Anyway, I am not as worried about this game as most. The biggest thing is winning on the weekends. Kentucky has an RPI of 38 right now, and we have played the 7th hardest schedule in the entire country. In most years at least 9-10 SEC schools makes the NCAA tournament. We are currently 8th. South Carolina is a few games behind us and their RPI is currently 74th. Ole Miss is also at our heels, with the same record as us, with just one more loss, and their RPI is 36th, so just slightly higher. If we can stay around where we are in the rankings then we should be all right. South Carolina has an extremely tough two weekends with LSU and TAMU, and they have been on a bit of a skid lately, losing 2 of 3 in the past two weekends to Tennessee and Auburn. Ole Miss has one tough weekend with TAMU and an easy one with MSU (but that is a rivalry). So, we have got to at least keep pace with Ole Miss. I think if we stay around 8, 9, or 10 then we will go to a regional. We have got to win on the weekends. Georgia is in the bottom 4, so this weekend is a must win. Missouri is a few spots ahead of us and has played good baseball, but we can catch them if they have a bad weekend this weekend at LSU and we take care of business against them. At this point it is just about winning on the weekends and staying below 10th in the SEC.

 

[UKnVT]

Hendo takes Dwyer out with 1 down in the 6th and a runner on 2nd. Puts Nelson in who promptly gives up 2 hits and walks 2, and now the Cards lead 4-2 .

I sure expect more out of a pitching staff when the head coach is a friggin "pitching guy", but his teams have been DREADFUL, once they get into the bullpen. Coching? Maybe .... but Hendo sure couldn't manage his way out of a paper bag.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I didn't watch or listen to the game last night, but I have some questions... 1. Why the hell did Henderson start Zach Logue if he was only going to pitch 2 innings? He took him out to start an inning so it was not as though Logue was in any trouble, and the game was still tied 0-0. He takes him out and sure enough, Dwyer gives up a run. Makes no sense to me why Henderson wouldn't try to at least get 4 or so out of Logue. I understand he was on a strict pitch count, but then why the hell do you start him in a game against a rival and the number 2 team in the nation? 2. Did Marcus Carson get injured in the first inning? If not then why did Henderson start him only to replace him with Barrett to start the 2nd?

 

[CatsFanGG24]

^ That type of midweek pitching substitution is what I have always seen for teams w/lesser rotations...I hate it for this game.

I would've put a little, actually a lot more importance on this game.

Carson did get hurt running to first in the 1st...but also, Barrett was taking a final and got to the field during the 1st inning.

 

[Comebakatz3]

^^ Thanks.

I don't mind having a revolving door pitching rotation. That isn't a terrible strategy. However, it would make much more sense to me to go with someone to start a game that you know might be able to at least give you 3-4 good innings rather than just giving you two because he is on a strict pitch count. That person would be much better suited to come in and help you shut a door rather than to start a game for you.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Hendos moves get more bizzare as we go along. Logue and Dwyer, both lefties, held UofL to 1 run into the 6th. Dwyer is replaced by 'Boom Boom' Nelson, and the game was basicly lost in that inning. How many chances are these below average pitchers going to get ?
As I see it we have 2 solid starters...Brown and Beggs, and 4 somewhat reliable relievers...Dwyer, Logue, Strecker, and Salow. Jack was tremendous last year, but has fallen off ledge this year. He might help in Hoover at that huge Ballpark with his fly ball stuff. Cody, lord only knows, he could get it together in time to fill the 3rd starter spot, but don't hold your breath.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I was going to mention the righty stuff, but really, Nelson just walked people rather than giving up hits. He gave up 3 runs without giving up a hit. That's pretty terrible. So, while I think the change to a righty was not that smart, I don't think that hurt us as much as Nelson just pitching poorly in general. Again, to me, that goes to understanding your staff. Is Nelson really a guy that can come in and slam the door of a rally? Usually starters don't have that mentality. They like to have bases clear.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Another guess about Logue...they could've gave him one time through ULs order and told him that was his day, whether it be 1-2 or 3 innings. IDK. But I do know this team is about what I thought it would be...

 

[sluggercatfan]

Another guess about Logue...they could've gave him one time through ULs order and told him that was his day, whether it be 1-2 or 3 innings. IDK. But I do know this team is about what I thought it would be...

And about all it is going to be as long as Henderson is allowed to stay here...